“It is a very big decision,” she said apologetically. “It decides the course of the rest of my life. And yours.”

“Yes, it does,” he agreed solemnly.

“And while I do enjoy your company and we do seem to like the same things, I—” She hesitated and then blurted, “Do you think you could kiss me again, my lord?”

Charles rocked back in his seat with surprise, his tea sloshing in his cup and slipping over the side to fill the matching saucer it sat on.

“I realize it is bold of me to ask,” she rushed on, aware that she was blushing. “But it does occur to me that before deciding something so important, it might be good to learn if we could . . . I mean, if we suited each other in . . . er . . . less intellectual ways.”

His eyes were wide now, his eyebrows halfway to his hairline and Lisa knew she was bright red with embarrassment.

Grimacing, she struggled on. “It is just that a lifetime is a very long time and while you have kissed me before, the first time I think you were being gentle with me and the second time was punishing at my own request, but I—” Lisa shook her head and then said, “I just thought if you kissed me passionately and . . .” She stared at him helplessly, and then stood abruptly, too embarrassed to continue. “I’m sorry. It was not well done of me to even suggest such a thing. I should probably—”

“No, no.” Charles was on his feet at once and moving around the table to claim her hands. “You took me by surprise, but you are absolutely right.”

“I am?” Lisa asked uncertainly.

“Yes, of course. Surely a proper kiss or two to ensure we . . . er . . . suit each other in other ways would be a sensible idea,” he said with a crooked smile.

Lisa felt herself relax at his words and nodded. “Yes. It does.”

“Very well.” Charles hesitated briefly, and then released her hands to clasp her elbows and draw her into his arms. Lisa managed not to stiffen up. It was difficult though. This wasn’t Robert and her body seemed very aware of that.

Charles smiled at her, and then lowered his head to press his lips to hers lightly, before beginning to nibble and nip.

Lisa waited for something to stir in her . . . and waited. Then his tongue brushed along her lips and she automatically opened to him, allowing his tongue to sweep in. Much to her relief, passion finally, slowly stirred to life within her. Sadly, it was only a weak echo of the passion Robert brought to life in her. On the other hand, Charles’s hands were remaining chastely on her elbows, not traveling over her body as Robert’s did when he kissed her, so perhaps that was the difference, she told herself.